Corris Uchaf, Wales
Posts tagged Welsh
A Week of 2 Halves
Jun 10th
To coin a football phrase, this has been a week of 2 halves.
Whilst the sun continues to cast its glare on our corner of Wales, people have been too busy to shop. They look around the wares and watch us work our craft, but its only a means of keeping cool indoors.
But, by the end of the week our visitors must have become accostomed to our wonderful Welsh weather, as they became increasingly interested and found another way of lightening their loads by shedding pounds into our till. Another form of slimming by the pound that should be encouraged.
Also nice to know that folk are interested in what we do and our crafts, even while glowing so profusely under the incessant heat. Just don’t forget the factor 40, and take advantage of the refreshments offered in our cafe.
So, like the football, a quiet first half of the week and we came storming back in the second.
And on that note another cheer for the Wales “B” team – Brazil – Come on the Bouys. Of course not forgetting Trinidad and Tobago, the possible runners up to our “B” team.
A Quiet couple of weeks
May 7th
Easter has passed, and so has the first May bank holiday.
The trees are greening, the birds singing and the countryside reinvents itself at this magical time of Spring.
There can be no where on earth as beautiful as Spring in Mid Wales, and especially at Corris Craft Centre.
Like silk worms we continue to sew and weave our way through our current projects. We have nearly completed our two Celtic wallhangings with our versions of the Red Dragon and celtic knotwork. Hope you like them.
We are also developing a theme of celebratory Welsh love spoons, built in woodlike fabrics, with personal inscriptions embroidered onto them. Rare and charming gifts for those special days.
We hope to have illustratory pictures as soon as we can.
Even better, come and see them at Bumble Bee Quilting…..
Our first week back
Apr 7th
Cannot believe it, a week into our new season already.
The sun has shone and yet the visitors arrived,. Not in droves, but enough to act as an encouraging sign for the season ahead. Financially as well the week has been quite reasonable. We have hopes for a modest profit this year (possibly even into 3 figures).
We have to pay for 12 month’s rent, but the season is actually only half that so we need to work and sell at double quick time to make up for the wintertime when the craft centre is generally devoid of any visitors.
Its been exhausting … but its great to see all our fellow crafters. Debbie, in the candle studio, has rescued a lamb, named Lucky, who is now 4 days old. Lucky was being mobbed by the crows and too week to even open her eyes. Now, after 3 days of Debbie’s gentle ministrations, she is gamboling about and as bright as a button.
Come to Corris Craft Centre and possibly meet one of the Luckiest creatures born this fine spring in the shadows of our majestic Welsh mountains.
What am I doing?
Mar 17th
I have been quilting for some years now, on and off, mainly whilst I was housebound as a single mum + 4 kids + elderly and increasing infirm Mother all at home. Quilting was a way doing something creative.
The kids have all flown, and Mum has passed on.
So, at the middle of last year a rare opportunity arose to sign a 3 year lease on a small craft unit at Corris Craft Centre.
A big venture, but with the promise of 80,000 visitors a year we reckoned we could make a profit if only 1/8 were actually interested in patchwork and quilting.
Hard work though. We are obliged to carry in the shop mostly what we make, and have to be open 7 days a week Apr-Oct. Very long hours/days/weeks/months.
Contractual hours in excess of the EU regulations ‘cos we can’t afford to employ anyone to help ease the pressure.
We create the designs, source the materials, sew the things we design, price and then hopefully sell ‘em.
I am the creative one and the inspiration. He indoors has only recently got to recognise what a needle and thread looks like and has no colour co-ordination at all. So its an end to end process, all Made in Wales.
There has proved to be a dearth of Welsh fabrics, so we are designing our own Welsh themed fabrics and hopefully we are going to get them printed in Wales at the Laura Ashley fabric printing factory in Newton, Powys. Finances allowing, as no grants or help is available anywhere from anyone for a small setup like ours.
But. he indoors has given me a web site (I did it!) and he created an online shop for me. So maybe there’s some (not much) hope for him.
So this is my spot to recount how things go as we approach our first creative full season as part of the Corris Crafters.
